SINGAPORE (06/14/2000) - Microsoft Corp. and Samsung Electronics Company Ltd. will jointly design, develop and market a new line of mobile phones based on Microsoft software, the companies announced Wednesday.
As part of the agreement, Samsung will design a range of phones for both GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) networks using the Microsoft Mobile Explorer wireless communication platform for mobile phones and the Microsoft smart phone platform.
The alliance was announced at a meeting between Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates and Samsung Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer KT Lee, the companies said in a statement.
Samsung mobile phones powered by Microsoft Mobile Explorer are expected to be available in the second half of 2000. Smart phones from Samsung using the Microsoft smart phone platform are expected to be available in 2001, according to the statement.
As part of their cooperation, the two companies will also work with mobile telecommunications network operators to help define mobile products for third-generation (3G) wireless networks. Smart phone solutions powered by the Microsoft smart phone platform are expected to reach their full potential when the broadband 3G networks arrive, according to the statement.
The phones will deliver wireless data services such as corporate data access, e-mail, personal information management (PIM), Web access, location-based services and electronic commerce, the companies said.
Microsoft, in Redmond, Washington, can be reached at +1-425-882-8080 or at http://www.microsoft.com/. Samsung Electronics, in Seoul, can be found online at http://www.samsungelectronics.com/.